Please share a short introduction about yourself.​

My name is Zara, I am a Redcoat and professional dancer at Butlins. I have always loved to dance, starting ballet lessons at the age of 3 at the Julie Deane school of dance and participating in shows and competitions too. It was Julie that gave me the passion to perform from such a young age and inspired me to want to be a dance teacher that would one day be as good as her.

 

I completed both the Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas in Dance Teaching with bbodance, after deciding to pursue this passion for dance at the age of 18 instead of going to university, whilst going on to perform professionally at the same time too.

 

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What is your dance teaching context? What education sector do you teach in and what dance styles/genres do you teach?

Due to performing professionally at the moment I do not teach full time however I go back to the dance school that I went to (Dance 10, Horncastle) when I can to assist and teach classes in modern, ballet and tap. I have also run workshops with my colleagues at work.

 

How did you hear about the level 5 course? Why did you choose to do the Level 5 course? How does it fit with your career development plans?

After starting at a new dance school (Dance 10, Horncastle) in 2021, I chose the Level 4 course with bbodance as my dance teacher, Jacqui Boddy, recommended it to me, as I assisted weekly with classes as a dance captain at the school. After completing the Level 4 Diploma I was then made aware by the bbodance Teaching Qualifications team that I could progress onto the Level 5 course and that completion of this would enable me to become a qualified dance teacher.

 

To me the Level 5 Diploma with bbodance was an obvious choice as becoming a qualified dance teacher is one of my career goals. I also wanted to further my teacher training with bbodance as the knowledge I gained from Level 4 was so extensive I knew that Level 5 would not just build upon this but would provide me even more.

 

I not only knew the training that I would receive from the tutors would be outstanding, but also that I would be supported by them throughout and taught in a friendly environment, which for me was another factor for choosing to progress to Level 5. I also chose this course due to it being all online, meaning that I could continue performing/working full-time and study for a highly regarded qualification at the same time.

 

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What was the application process like?

The application process was straightforward, and the teaching qualifications team ensure that the course is right for you and your context. The online form is easy to complete and if you have any questions, the bbodance team will answer them for you.

 

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How did you feel at the start of the course?

I started the Level 5 course in the summer, which is my busiest time at work due to it being school summer holidays, which made me apprehensive about the workload from the course I would have to juggle with my job and working long hours at this time. However, the tutors were very supportive and understanding of my situation, and even though I was very busy, the course was manageable for me because of the online nature of it.

 

At the start of the course I was mainly excited to learn! The bbodance courses really inspire you to want to develop your knowledge and take on and apply all the new information you learn. Level 5 brought me a newfound excitement for research into dance teaching theories, which is all thanks to the enthusiasm and expertise of the module tutors.

             

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What has been your favourite module and why?​

I really enjoyed all the modules for different reasons so having to pick a favourite is very difficult! I found module 5.2 (Assessment for Learning) very interesting as it provided me with terminology to describe practices I frequently use and an understanding of why these methods are effective within my classes. I also really enjoyed module 5.4 (Developing Choreographic Practice) as it taught me a facilitatory approach to teaching which led to my students producing choreography that I was very proud of!

 

I found module 5.1 (Curriculum Design) initially daunting as I had never created a full scheme of work before. However I found this module very rewarding as the online training days were so helpful in teaching me everything I needed to know, to then come out with 2 distinction worthy schemes of work that I can now use to help me to develop more in the future.

 

 

Would you recommend our Level 5 course and why?

I would definitely recommend bbodance’s Level 5 course as it covers a wide range of topics that I feel have helped me to become a more well-rounded dance teacher. The course is so informative and interesting and opens your eyes to many aspects you may have never thought about before, up until this point. This course can be an intense few months but it is so rewarding and provides you with a university style level of learning alongside any other commitments you might have.

 

The online nature of this course is also perfect, if like me, you are still dancing professionally but want to gain a qualification in dance teaching with a good academic level too. It also saves a lot of time and money, if you live outside of London! The online one to one sessions with tutors are really useful, and my cohort was quite small, so even the online training days felt personal too. Even though you are completing this course on your own at home, you always feel connected and supported by the teaching qualifications faculty, and if you have any questions, all the tutors are just an email away! The tutors are so supportive and helpful and it was lovely to see some of them on the onsite training day too. All the bbodance team are so understanding about each students’ personal circumstances and really help to tailor the course so each student gets the most out of the learning.

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Can you describe some of the main skills you’ve learned from the course?

This course has helped me to be more reflective on not just my teaching practice but also my own dancing and performing. It provides you with so many transferable skills that you can apply to different aspects of your life! It has particularly enhanced my academic writing skills further and encouraged me to keep reading into research and broadening my knowledge independently. It has also provided me with the ability to know where the best resources are that will help me in the future as well as providing me resources whilst completing Level 5.

 

This course has also made me believe in my teaching abilities more and helped me understand why parts of my practice are so effective. Additionally, it highlights skills that you already have and enhances and develops them through the online training days, assessments and even just the planning of your course work.

 

 

What are your plans after the course?

I will continue to dance professionally, however I know that in the future I would like to own my own dance school and teach in this private dance school setting. The bbodance Level 5 Diploma has allowed me to know that this is an achievable goal, and that I have my qualification ready for when I choose to make this step.